| There are many students who are interested in | | | | that greatly affected segments of the population |
| the field of psychology as an area of study, but | | | | that had before been either underserved or |
| who may be unsure of what kind of jobs are | | | | ignored. |
| available with a psychology degree. The fact of | | | | With a psychology degree, you may be able to |
| the matter is that the field of psychology is one | | | | focus your attention on the area of physiological |
| that is constantly growing and changing because | | | | psychology, or biopsychology. These two fields |
| of advancements made in the field itself and in | | | | concentrate on the physiological or biological |
| fields that are associated with psychology. Some | | | | aspects of the human brain that can affect |
| of the advancements have to do with new | | | | emotions, behavior, or even learning processes. |
| knowledge about the physiology of the brain and | | | | Much of the work in these two sub-fields of |
| how it relates to human activity. Some other | | | | psychology is conducted in a laboratory, usually |
| advancements are related to job growth in the | | | | with non-human subjects, but sometimes with |
| field due to outside forces such as changes in | | | | humans as subjects. Understanding the link |
| laws, or medical advances, or a need for program | | | | between the biology and physiology of the brain |
| evaluation in other work fields. | | | | has led to advancements like mood-altering drugs |
| The field of psychology is very broad and | | | | to treat depression, or the knowledge that |
| encompasses many different aspects. Using | | | | vigorous exercise naturally increases mood |
| scientific methods, psychologists work to have a | | | | enhancers in the brain called endorphins. |
| better understanding of the workings of the | | | | Schools online that offer psychology degrees will |
| human brain and associated outcomes that have | | | | likely also focus on the field of program |
| to do with thought and emotional and behavioral | | | | evaluations and intelligence testing. Many work |
| patterns. An online degree in psychology can lead | | | | fields outside of psychology rely on the |
| to many different career paths that are in almost | | | | knowledge that has been developed over the |
| every field of work, from child care to military | | | | past few decades regarding the ability to |
| service. | | | | psychologically evaluate potential candidates for |
| If you decide to enroll in an online college to study | | | | various jobs. For example, police departments rely |
| psychology, you will learn about the many | | | | heavily on these evaluations to determine |
| different areas of psychology that are being | | | | whether or not an applicant has the necessary |
| affected by advances in the field. One area that is | | | | psychological make-up to participate in this |
| being greatly influenced by medical advances is | | | | sometimes dangerous field. Often life and death |
| the study of language development in deaf | | | | decisions must be made in the blink of an eye, |
| children. Understanding how language affects | | | | and making sure the people who hold these jobs |
| development in children and their subsequent brain | | | | are psychologically able to handle difficult decisions |
| development is a field that is now attracting a | | | | is important for the safety of the officers, as well |
| great attention because of developments like | | | | as the general public. |
| cochlear implants that can bring hearing to | | | | Another area that has seen advancement is the |
| profoundly deaf children. Without understanding | | | | area of educational psychology. Online colleges |
| the psychological impact of hearing and language | | | | that offer courses in this will focus on many |
| loss, perhaps some of these amazing | | | | different aspects of education and the |
| developments would not have taken place. As | | | | psychological aspect of learning. For example, |
| recently as the mid-1900s, children who were | | | | many school districts now recognize that children |
| profoundly deaf were often institutionalized | | | | with certain disabilities or physiological conditions |
| because it was believed their mental abilities were | | | | learn differently than others may, and have |
| diminished. With advances in psychology, these | | | | special programs to meet the needs of those |
| notions have been proven to be completely | | | | children. An example of this would be the schools |
| unfounded, thus giving children with physiological | | | | that have special learning programs for children |
| conditions like deafness a much brighter future. | | | | with autism spectrum diseases. Another subgroup |
| Another area of advancement you may learn | | | | that might be a focus of educational psychology |
| about in an online degree program in psychology is | | | | would be children who are considered gifted, |
| the area of legal rights for mental health patients. | | | | usually determined by a series of tests given by a |
| Beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, it was becoming | | | | child psychologist. Some of the tools that might |
| more and more apparent to practitioners in the | | | | be developed by an educational psychologist |
| field that stigmatizing patients with mental health | | | | would be instructional design programs, types of |
| issues was detrimental and counterproductive not | | | | classroom management, or different kinds of |
| only to the patients, but to society as a whole. | | | | educational technology. |
| New anti-discrimination laws were put into place | | | | |